
Talking to 'Crazy'
How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life
by Mark Goulston
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Pub Date Oct 15 2015 | Archive Date Dec 01 2015
AMACOM Books | AMACOM
Description
“Finally! The book that helps you deal with irrational, impossible people.” —Oprah’s Book Club 2.0
Because some people are beyond difficult…
Let’s face it, we all know people who are irrational. No matter how hard you try to reason with them, it never works. So what’s the solution? How do you talk to someone who’s out of control? What can you do with a boss who bullies, a spouse who yells, or a friend who frequently bursts into tears?
In his book, Just Listen, Mark Goulston shared his bestselling formula for getting through to the resistant people in your life. Now, in his breakthrough new book Talking to Crazy, he brings his communication magic to the most difficult group of all—the downright irrational.
As a psychiatrist, Goulston has seen his share of crazy and he knows from experience that you can’t simply argue it away. The key to handling irrational people is to learn to lean into the crazy—to empathize with it. That radically changes the dynamic and transforms you from a threat into an ally. Talking to Crazy explains this counterintuitive Sanity Cycle and reveals:
Why people act the way they do • How instinctive responses can exacerbate the situation—and what to do instead • When to confront a problem and when to walk away • How to use a range of proven techniques including Time Travel, the Fish-bowl, and the Belly Roll • And much more
You can’t reason with unreasonable people—but you can reach them. This powerful and practical book shows you how.
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9780814436363 |
PRICE | $24.95 (USD) |
Average rating from 9 members
Featured Reviews

We all have that one friend, co-worker, family member, neighbor, or person that just loses it when things don’t go their way.. this book is full of great advice for dealing with just that situation. There is a story in the beginning about a road rage incident… I don’t know that I could have remained calm during that type of event, and I don’t know that I exactly agree with what the author did in the situation — however I can see just how that reaction diffused the situation.
I really enjoyed reading the advice on how to get out of the loop of crazy in my day to day life. I have tried out some of the advice given in the book and I found that I was able to keep the crazy at bay — however, when my own ‘crazy’ begins.. it becomes increasingly difficult to stay calm — but now thanks to this book, I have a much better understanding of how that happens and why. :)
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mark Goulston's writing is always great, and TALKING TO CRAZY is no exception. "...the first step in understanding these people is to recognize that they're a lot more like flat-out insane people than you think." Who wouldn't love an author with that much brutal honesty? This is turning out to be a phenomenal book that I will not only enjoy reading, but re-reading and recommending to others.